Digestive Wellness: Strengthen the Immune System and Prevent Disease Through Healthy Digestion, Fourth Edition (27 page)

Convert flavonoids to usable forms

Immune

Prevent and treat diarrhea from antibiotics

Prevent infection by producing antibiotic and antifungal substances

Prevent and alleviate eczema, asthma, and allergies

Prevent food poisoning

Decrease severity and duration of respiratory and other infections

Break down bacterial toxins

Protect against toxic substances

Have antitumor and anticancer effects

Prevent and control thrush, vaginal yeast infection, and bladder infection

Break down and prevent synthesis of bacterial toxins

Activate mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)

Protect and modulate autoimmune diseases

Intestinal microbes play an important role in our ability to fight infectious disease, providing a front line in our immune defense. Friendly microbes also manufacture many nutrients, including vitamin K and several of the B-complex vitamins: biotin, B
₁
, B
₂
, B
₃
, B
₅
, B
₆
, B
₁₂
, and folic acid. Certain acid-secreting species increase our absorption of minerals including calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, and manganese. Probiotics improve peristalsis, help normalize bowel transit time, and are also important in preventing traveler’s diarrhea. If you travel outside the United States, take a probiotic supplement daily, as studies show it significantly increases your ability to withstand the new microbes to which you will be exposed.